Adjustable feed roller assembly



Nov. 22, 1966 B. B. PASQUINELLI 3,2

ADJUSTABLE FEED ROLLER ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 9, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet lFIG.I

IN VEN TOR.

BRUNO B. PASQUINELL! BY Nov. 22, 1966 B. s. PASQUINELLI ADJUSTABLE FEEDROLLER ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9, 1964 INVENTOR.

BRUNO 8. PA SQUINELLI v. o lmi-iii-iml 9 we 2 2 0w\ mm mm o E w I m M tM 0 a m 7 h vw 8 Q H m V .W P 2w m a, s m 4 u W Y m B B. B. PASQUINELLIADJUSTABLE FEED ROLLER ASSEMBLY Nov. 22, 1966 B. B. PASQUINELLIADJUSTABLE FEED ROLLER ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001;. 9, 1964INVENTOR.

BRUNO B. PASQUINELLI MM wi iEi/J United States Patent O 3,287,014ADJUSTABLE FEED ROLLER ASSEMBLY Bruno B. Pasquinelli, Evergreen Park,Ill., assignor to Miehle-Goss-Dexter, Incorporated, Chicago, 11]., acorporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 402,871 14 Claims.(Cl. 271-51) The invention relates to feeding mechanism for feedingsheets to rotary printing presses, and has reference more particularlyto a laterally adjustable feed roller assembly having operativeassociated relation with the sheet conveyor tapes of a feed table.

In sheet feed printing presses the sheets to be printed are arranged ina stack on a pile supporting table located at one end of the press. Thesuccessive top sheets are separated in rapid order from the pile bymeans of air blasts and pneumatic separators which engage the sheet nearits rear edge and which serves to advance or float the leading edgethereof between feed rollers and thence onto endless tapes which conveythe sheets to the register table. There is a gap between the pipe ofsheets and the conveyor tapes and therefore, in order to guide the leading edge of the sheet across the gap it is necessary to provide bridgesand feed rollers at spaced intervals transverely of the path of thesheet. Moreover it is essential that a feed roller be aligned with eachside edge of the sheet to provide support for the corners thereof toprevent the front corners of the sheets from becoming bent over andcreased or damaged in any manner. If this should happen, not only is thesheet wasted, but if such sheet passes through the press the doublethickness at the corners thereof may damage the plate of a typographicpress or the blanket of an offset press.

Heretofore, it has been necessary to adjust the feed rollers and bridgesseparately and individually on each side of the center line of the pressin order to align a feed roller with each side edge of the sheet. Notonly is it difficult to eifect such individual adjustments because ofthe limited space available for the operator, but such adjustments mustbe made while the press is stopped and thus the time required for thisoperation adds considerably to the down time of the press.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a feed rollerassembly of novel and improved construction and wherein the feedrollers, the bridging elements and the joggers associated therewith areall adjustable laterally as a unit from a remote and convenientposition.

The lateral adjustability of the feed roller assembly of the inventionenables the operator to readily align the feed rollers with the sideedges of the sheets to be printed so as to provide the necessary supportfor the forward corners of each sheet. The time required for makingready is accordingly reduced.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a feedroller assembly including feed rollers having ramp tapes, joggers andbridging elements associated therewith and wherein the several elementsare laterally adjustable as a unit as the result of lateral adjustmentof control brackets provided for the purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feed roller assemblyincluding endless ramp tapes having associated relation with feedrollers respectively, the said ramp tapes passing over guide rollers atthe end adjacent the joggers and passing over tension rollers at theiropposite end adjacent the bridging elements.

Another object is to provide endless ramp tapes as elements of a feedroller assembly which will have location between the joggers and therollers for the sheet conveyor tapes of the feed table and wherein theguide rollers for the ramp tapes which are located adjacent the3,287,014 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 adjustment of the elements in order toaccommodate sheets of different widths.

With these and various other objects in view the invention may consistof certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be morefully described and particularly pointed out in the specification,drawings and claims appended thereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the device and whereinlike reference characters are used to designate like parts FIGURE 1 is atop plan view of sheet feeding mechanism incorporating the adjustablefeed roller assembly of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 22of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 44of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view, parts being shown in section, and whichillustrates the action of the shifting levers. for shifting the controlbrackets and associated elements with respect to the center framemember;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of FIGURE3; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary top plan view on an enlarged scale showingcertain structural details which provide for lateral adjustment of thefeed roller assembly.

For illustrating the invention, the drawings show certain parts of aconventional feed table for feeding sheets to a printing press or thelike. For example, in FIGURE 1 theside frames of a feed table are shownand which are indicated by the numerals 10 and 11. The shaft 12 issuitably journalled by the side frames and the rollers 14 are fixed tothe shaft so as to rotate therewith. The sheet conveyor tapes 15 passover and around the rollers 14 and it will be observed that the top runof the tapes which travel from left to right in FIGURE 2 are locatedabove and in sliding contact with the top surface of the feed table 16.

The numeral 18 indicates a stack of sheets 20 which are to be fed by thesheet feeding mechanism, the same including the conveyor tapes 15. Thestack of sheets are spaced a distance from the conveyor rollers 14 andthe feed rollers 21 and 22 and the joggers 23 are located in said space.The sheets 20 are initially separated from the stack by a blast of airwhich issues from the jet 24. The suckers 25 function to separate thetop sheet from the stack, and the suckers 26 move the top separatedsheet in a direction forwardly toward the feed roller assembly. At thispoint in the feeding operation, the joggers 23 are in their retractedposition as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2 and the forward edge ofthe sheet is accordingly presented to the nip provided by the droprollers 27 and the feed rollers 21. The drop rollers hold the sheets incontact with the feedrollers 21 and the rotating action of the rollerstogether with the forward travel of ramp tapes, to be presentlydescribed, feed the sheets over bridging elements and onto the conveyortapes 15 which continue the forward feeding motion of the sheets to theprinting couple of the printing press. The joggers are thereuponreturned to their upright position as shown in full lines in FIGURE 2,and the operation is repeated With the next top sheet from the stack 18.

The joggers 23 have a split hub portion 28, FIGURE 2, by means of whichthey are fixed in desired position on one of the jogger shafts either 30or 31. The said shafts extend between side frames 10 and 11 beingiournalled at their outer ends in the side frames, respectively,FIGURE 1. The inner end of each jogger shaft is rotatably supported bybeing mounted in a bore 32 provided for the purpose in a center framemember 33. Thus it is possible for each jogger shaft to have independentsliding movement in a lateral direction with respect to the center framemember. Although this sliding movement is limited in extent, it issufiicient for lateral adjustment purposes and the said adjustingmovement is also independent of the oscillating movement which is givento each jogger shaft.

A feed roller shaft 34 is also journalled by the side frames and by thecenter frame member and the said shaft extends parallel to the joggershafts. The shaft 34 is held in place at its right hand end by thepinned collar 35 and at its left hand end by the pinion gear 36. Asuitable driving gear, not shown, is adapted to mesh with the piniongear 36 for producing the necessary feeding rotation of the feed rollershaft 34 and thus the feed rollers mounted on the same.

Additional shafts 37 and 38 are provided for supporting the bridgingelements which also comprise part of the present feed roller assembly.The shafts 37 and 38 extend from side frame 10 to side frame 11, havingtheir outer ends mounted in the side frames respectively for axialmovement in said frames but they are prevented from rotating by meanssuch as the keys 41 which slidably engage in a keyway slot formed in therespective shafts. It will also be observed from FIGURES 1 and thatshaft 37 extends from side frame to the center frame member 33, theright hand end of the shaft, as seen in FIGURE 1, being received in abore 42 provided for the purpose in the center frame member. In asimilar manner the shaft 38 extends from side frame 11 to the centerframe member 33 and the said shaft has its left hand end mounted in thebore 42.

The shafts 30 and 31 which carry the joggers 23 are adapted to beoscillated in order to move the joggers to and from an upright and aretracted position. Said OSClllating movement of the joggers isaccomplished by the jogger cam 43 fixed to a drive shaft 44 and havingcontact with the roller 45 on the jogger cam lever 46. Said cam lever 46is able to oscillate on shaft 47 and the roller 45 of the lever isyieldingly maintained in contact with the jogger cam by means of thecoil spring and rod arrangement 48. The link 50 joins the cam lever 46to the arm 51 which is adapted to rotate on the pivot axis provided bythe shaft 52. The lever 53 is also fixed to the shaft 52 and said leverat its outer free end has a ball and socket connection 54 with the link55. The opposite end of said link 55 is connected by a second ball andsocket joint 56 to an arcuate lever 57 which is fixed at 58 to a joggershaft such as 30.

Rotating action of the cam 43 will oscillate the cam lever 46 andthrough the linkage connections similar motion is imparted to thearcuate lever 57 and to the joggers 23. The motion is timed so that thejoggers are retracted into the dotted line position of FIGURE 2 as asheet is forwarded by the suckers 26. Following this action the joggersare returned to their upright position. Mechanism similar to that asshown and described for jogger shaft 30 is provided for jogger shaft 31.The ball and socket connections 54 and 56 are required since thejoggers, as elements of the feed roller assembly are adapted to beadjusted laterally along with the ramp tapes and bridging elements aswill be more fully understood as the description proceeds.

The shafts 37 and 38 function as supports for bridging elements 60 and61, respectively. Intermediate the length of each shaft the same isformed to provide a base portion 62 which is substantially square incross section. The bridging elements are suitably fixed to the fiat 'topsurface of the square base portion of the respective shafts. As shown inFIGURE 1 a plurality of bridging in diameter. An endless ramp tape 66 isassociated with each roller. portion 64 of the feed roller 22 as bestshown 1 in FIGURES 3 and 7. At the end adjacent the joggers, the ramptape passes over a rear guide roller 67,and at the opposite end the ramptape passes over a tension roller 68. At an intermediate point the toprun of each ramp tape has contact with its feed roller 22 and in asimilar manner the bottom run of each ramp tape also has contact withthe same feed roller. Accordingly, the feed rollers function as adriving element for the particular ramp tapes associated therewith.

Each tension roller 68 is carried by a pair of supporting springs 70which journal the shaft 71 of the roller, the said supporting springsbeing fixed at their opposite end to the square base section 62 of oneof the shafts either 37 or 38. Each guide roller 67 is provided with ajournalling shaft 72, the projecting ends of which are mounted in a yoke73 as shown in FIGURE 6. The base of each yoke is secured by a bolt 74to the supporting .rod 75. Such a rod is suspended from each of theshafts 37 and 38 for supporting its respective yokes 73, and thus theguide rollers 67 journalled by the yokes. The members for suspending therod 75 are indicated in FIGURES 3 and 6 by the numeral 76 and it will beobserved that the member is secured to the rod by a bolt 77 and thatsaid member at its opposite end is carried by the circular end portionof its respective shaft either 37 or 38.

Bodily movement of a supporting rod 75 must therefore take place withrespect to its supporting shaft either 37 or 38 as an axis of rotation.In accordance wit-h the invention said bodily movement of the supportingrods is effected for adjusting the vertical positioning of the. InFIGURE rear guide rollers 67 of the 'lr amp tapes. 3 the full lineposition of the guide rollers as shown provide considerable slope in adownward direction towards the stack 18 for the rear top section of theramp tapes.

In the dotted line position the rear guide rollers have.

been elevated to decrease the extent of the slope and thus the rear topsection of the ramp tapes is more nearly horizontal. This adjustment ofthe rear sloping portion of the ramp tapes is required for feedingsheets of different thickness and different flexibility, as for example,sheets of very thin paper and sheets of fairly stiff cardboard.

For adjusting the vertical positioning of the guide rollers 67 theoperator need only rotate the hand wheel 80 fixed to shaft 81, FIGURES 3and 6. A worm gear 82 is fixed to shaft 81 and said worm gear mesheswith a gear 83 on shaft 84. The arm 85 on shaft 84 is thus actuated toimpart movement to the link 86 pivotally connected thereto at 87. At itsopposite end link 86 is pivoted at 88 to a second link 89 which is inturn fixedly secured to the supporting rod 75. Since the entire feedroller assembly is laterally adjustable, the pivot connections 87 and 88are on the order of ball and socket structures and thus limited movementin a lateral direction of the ramp/tape assembly with respect to theadjusting shaft 84 is possible.

The structure for laterally adjusting the feed roller assemblies isshown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the same in- Each feed roller 22 has a rollerportion 64 1 on respective sides of a center section 65 which is reducedcluding the adjusting levers 9t] and 91 and the control brackets 92 and93. The lever 90 and control bracket 92 are associated with shaft 37,whereas lever 91 and control bracket 93 are associated with shaft 38. Anunderstanding of the structure and mode of operation of an adjustinglever and control bracket can be obtained from FIGURE 4 which shows thelever 91 as pivoted at 94 to a fixed cross brace 95. The lever has apivotal connection at 96 with the control bracket 93. Below the pivotconnection 94 the cross brace is provided with an arcuate slot 97 and alocking handle 98 extends through the arcuate slot and has a threadedconnection with the lever 91. By releasing the locking handle the lever91 can be oscillated either to the right or to the left and then thelever can be locked in the desired adjusted position. Lever 90 forcontrol bracket 92 is pivoted at 100 to the cross brace and has alocking lever 101 operating in the arcuate slot 102.

The control brackets 92 and 93 each consist of a base section 103 and atop section 104, the two sections being clamped together in clampingrelation with the shaft 37 or with the shaft 38. In FIGURE 4 the bracket93 is shown as clamped to shaft 38 by means of the screws 105. Thebracket is associated with a feed roller 22 and the top and bottomsections of the bracket have encircling relation With the feed roller ata location in alignment with the center section of reduced diameter; Itwill be seen from FIGURE 4 that the bracket sections are spaced from thefeed roller and thus the feed rollers shaft 34 land the rollers on theshaft are able to rotate for sheet feeding purposes. Considering firstthe feed rollers 22 on the right side of the feed table, FIGURES l and3, it will be seen that the shaft bore extending through each said feedroller is grooved for receiving the key 106. The key in turn rides in akeyway 107 formed in the right hand section of the feed roller shaft.Each feed roller is secured to the key by a screw 108. Thus when thecontrol bracket 93 is shifted laterally by adjustment of the lever 91,the shaft 38 is shifted and likewise the bridging elements 61 carried bythe shaft. Also, the lateral movement of control bracket 93 will movethe feed roller associated therewith in a direction axially of the feedroller shaft 34. This imparts similar sliding movement to the key 106,and thus the positioning of all of the feed rollers fixed to the key issimilarly adjusted with respect to shaft 34.

The structure for control bracket 92 which is clamped to shaft 37 issimilar. The numeral 109, FIGURES 1 and 7, indicates the key located inthe keyway formed in the left hand section of the feed roller shaft 34,and 110 indicates the screw which fixes the feed rollers to the key.Thus actuation of the lever 90 will move the feed roller 22 associatedtherewith and the key 109 is, in turn, adjusted laterally forpositioning all of the elements of the feed roller assembly on this lefthand side of the feed table.

Lateral adjustment of the jogger shafts 30 and 31 together with thejoggers 23 fixed to said shafts is effected by the movement of thecontrol brackets 92 and 93 resnectively. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 4 aneccentric collar 111 is secured on shaft 30 on each side of the controlbracket 92, and likewise for shaft 31 an eccentric collar 112 is securedto said shaft on each side of the control bracket 93. Thus the shafts 30and 31 will move laterally in unison with the respective controlbrackets 92 and 93 to position the joggers on the respective sides ofthe assembly and the eccentric collars will not interfere with theoscillating motion of the shafts 30 and 31.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction ofthe particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings as variousother forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilledin the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In sheet feeding mechanism for feeding sheets seriatim from the topof a pile thereof to sheet conveying means on a feed table spaced fromsaid pile, the provision of a feed roller assembly for supporting andguiding each succeeding sheet across the space between the pile and thefeed table including a rotatable shaft disposed horizontally andtransversely of the path travelled by the sheets, a plurality of feedrollers mounted on said shaft at spaced intervals across the width ofthe sheet path, means connecting the feed rollers on one side of thecenter line of said assembly together to form an integral unit which isconstrained to rotate with said shaft being slidable axially thereon,means connecting the feed rollers on the other side of the center lineof said assembly together to form a second integral unit which isconstrained to rotate with said shaft while being slidably axiallythereon, a separate control bracket connected to each of said units formaintaining said units in predetermined positions axially on said shaft,and manually operable means for adjusting said control brackets andtherewith said units independently of one another whereby to align afeed roller of each unit with the respective lateral edges of thesheets.

2. A feed roller assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means forconnecting the feed rollers of a respective unit comprises an elongatedkey slidably mounted in a keyway in said shaft, said key having tappedholes therein at predetermined spaced intervals, and bolt means on eachfeed roller adapted to be inserted into the respective tapped holeswhereby each feed roller of a unit is fixedly secured to said key.

3. A feed roller assembly as set forth in claim 1 additionally includinga plurality of bridge elements alternating with said feed rollers forsupporting and guiding the sheets from the feed rollers to the sheetconveying means, support means for said bridge elements including aseparate bar on each side of the center line of the assembly, said barsbeing disposed parallel to the rotatable shaft and in a manner that theycan be moved laterally relative to the center line of said assembly, andmeans connecting the control brackets to the respective bars wherebysaid bridge elements are caused to move laterally in unison with therespective feed roller units when the latter are adjusted.

4. A feed roller assembly as set forth in claim 1 additionlly includinga pair of coaxial shafts arranged parallel to said rotatable shaft,means mounting said coaxial shafts for independent lateral motion onrespective sides of 'the center line of the assembly, a series of joggerelements secured to each coaxial shaft in a manner that they projectbetween selected feed rollers, means for oscillating said coaxial shaftsand therewith said jogger elements to thereby maintain the sheets onsaid pile in alignment, and means connecting said coaxial shafts to therespective control brackets whereby said shafts and therewith the joggerelements are adjustable laterally in unison with the feed roller unitsnotwithstanding the oscillating motion of said shafts.

5. In sheet feeding mechanism, in combination with a feed table havingsheet conveyor means of the conventional type, of a feed roller assemblylocated in advance of the sheet conveyor means and including a feedroller shaft journalled for rotation, a plurality of feed rollers onsaid shaft and which have rotation along with the shaft, at least oneendless ramp tape operatively associated with each feed roller so thatthe ramp tape has movement for assisting the sheet conveyor means, aguide roller located in advance of each feed roller and over which theramp tape passes, a tensioning roller located beyond each feed rollerand over which the ramp tape passes, the top run of the ramp tape havingcontact with is feed roller at an intermediate point, and the bottom runof the ramp tape also having contact with its feed roller at anintermediate point, whereby the feed rollers upon rota- 7 tion thereofimpart movement to the endless ramp tapes respectively.

6. Sheet feeding mechanism as defined by claim 5, additionally includinga pair of spring members for each tensioning roller, said spring membersbeing fined to a support at one end and journalling a tensioning rollerat their opposite free end, and a journalling yoke for each guideroller.

7. Sheet feeding mechanism as defined by claim 5, additionally includinga pair of spring members for each tensioning roller, said spring membersbeing fixed to a support at one end and journalling a tensioning rollerat their opposite free end, a journalling yoke for each guide roller, asupporting rod for the journalling yokes, and means suspending thesupporting rod from the support to which the spring members are fixed.

8. In sheet feeding mechanism, in combination with a feed table havingsheet conveyor means of the conventional type, of a feed roller assemblylocated in advance of the sheet conveyor means and including a feedroller shaft journalled for rotation, a plurality of feed rollers onsaid shaft and which have rotation along with the shaft, at least oneendless ramp tape operatively associated with each feed roller so thatthe ramp tape has movement for assisting the sheet conveyor means, aguide roller located in advance of each feed roller and over which theramp tape passes, a tensioning roller located beyond each feed rollerand over which the ramp tape passes, the top and bottom runs of eachramp tape having contact with its feed roller, whereby the feed rollersupon rotation thereof impart movement to the endless ramp tapesrespectively, a journalling yoke for each guide roller, a supporting rodto which the journalling yokes are secured, means pivotally suspendingthe supporting rod and thus the journalling yokes for bodily movement,and means adapted to be manually actuated for adjusting the position ofthe supporting rod to vary the positioning of the guide rollers withrespect to the feed rollers.

9. Sheet feeding mechanism as defined by claim 8, additionally includinga pair of spring members for each tensioning roller, said spring membersat one end being fixed to a support and journalling a tensioning rollerat their opposite free end, and wherein the supporting rod for thejournalling yokes is pivotally suspended from the said support.

10. In sheet feeding mechanism, in combination a feed table havingmoving tapes providing sheet conveyor means, a feed roller assemblylocated in advance of the sheet conveyor means, said assembly includinga feed roller shaft journalled for rotation, a plurality of feed rollersslidably mounted on the shaft for axial adjustment but having rotationwith the shaft, a guide roller located in advance of at least one ofsaid feed rollers, a tensioning roller located beyond said at least onefeed roller, and endless ramp tape in operative associated relation witheach of said guide, feed and tensioning rollers, each endless ramp tapepassing around the guide roller at one end and around the tensioningroller at its other end, said ramp tapes each having contact at anintermediate point with its feed roller, whereby the feed rollers uponrotation thereof impart movement to the endless ramp tapes respectively,and means operative when actuated for effecting lateral sliding movementof the feed rollers and the ramp tape assemblies as a unit foradjustment purposes.

11.=Sheetfeeding'mechanism as defined by claim 10, wherein the meansslidably mounting the weed rollers on the feed roller shaft includes akeyway formed in the table having moving tapes providing sheet conveyormeans, a feed roller assembly located in advance of, the

sheet conveyor means, said assembly including a feed roller shaftjournalled for rotation, a plurality of feed rollers slidably mounted onthe shaft for axial adjustment but having rotation with the shaft, aguide roller. located :in advance of at least one of said feed rollers,a tensioning roller located beyond said at least one feed roller, an endless ramp tape in operative associated relation with each of said guide,feed and tensioning rollers, each endless ramp tape passing around theguide roller at one endand around the tensioning roller at its otherend, said ramp tapes each having contact at an intermediate point withits feed roller, whereby the feed rollers upon rotation thereof impartmovement to the endless ramp tapes respectively, a journalling yoke foreach of the guide rollers, a supporting rod to which the journallingyokes are secured, and means pivotally suspending the supporting rod,whereby bodily movement of the supporting rod, the journalling yokes andthe guide rollers as a unit is possible for adjustment purposes.

13. Sheet feeding mechanism as defined by claim 12, additionallyincluding a pair of resilient members for journalling each tensioningroller, a support to which the resilient members are secured, andwherein the supporting rod for the journalling yokes is pivotallysuspended from the said support.

14. In sheet feeding mechanism for feeding sheets from a stack thereofonto a feed table having sheet conveying means, the combinationcomprising a feed roller assembly located in advance of the table foradvancing the sheets onto said conveyor means, said feed roller assemblyin-, cluding a shaft journalled for rotation, a plurality of feedrollers mounted for rotation with the shaft, a guide roller located inadvance of each feed roller,'an endless ramp tape tracked about eachguide roller and its respective feed roller in a manner whereby rotationof the feed roller imparts motion -to the ramp tape in directionsparallel to that of the sheet conveying means, adjustablesupportingmeans for said guide rollers, and control means connected tosaid supporting means for adjusting the guide rollers verticallyrelative to said feed rollers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,222,009 ll/1940 Williams. 2,284,430 5/1942 Iirousek.

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

R. A. SCHACHER, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM FOR FEEDING SHEETS SERIATIM FROM THE TOPOF A PILE THEREOF TO SHEET CONVEYING MEANS ON A FEED TABLE SPACED FROMSAID PILE, THE PROVISION OF A FEED ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORTING ANDGUIDING EACH SUCCEEDING SHEET ACROSS THE SPACE BETWEEN THE PILE AND THEFEED TABLE INCLUDING A ROTATABLE SHAFT DISPOSED HORIZONTALLY ANDTRANSVERSELY OF THE PATH TRAVELLED BY THE SHEETS, A PLURALITY OF FEEDROLLERS MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT AT SPACED INTERVALS ACROSS THE WIDTH OFTHE SHEET PATH, MEANS CONNECTING THE FEED ROLLERS ON ONE SIDE OF THECENTER LINE OF SAID ASSEMBLY TOGETHER TO FORM AN INTEGRAL UNIT WHICH ISCONSTRAINED TO ROTATE WITH SAID SHAFT BEING SLIDABLE AXIALLY THEREON,MEANS CONNECTING THE FEED ROLLERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CENTER LINEOF SAID ASSEMBLY TOGETHER TO FORM A SECOND INTEGRAL UNIT WHICH ISCONSTRAINED TO ROTATE WITH SAID SHAFTS WHILE BEING SLIDABLE AXIALLYTHEREON, A SEPARATE CONTROL BRACKET CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID UNITS FORMAINTAINING SAID UNITS IN PREDETERMINED POSITIONS AXIALLY ON SAID SHAFT,AND MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS FOR ADJUSTING SAID CONTROL BRACKETS ANDTHEREWITH SAID UNITS INDEPENDENTLY OF ONE ANOTHER WHEREBY TO ALIGN AFEED ROLLER OF EACH UNIT WITH THE RESPECTIVE LATERAL EDGES OF THESHEETS.